SHARP PRACTICE IN MALAYA "
SIR,—If, as your correspondent " Changi " implies, the creation of a Malayan Union were a punitive measure, I should not quarrel with the Government, provided it adduced cogent evidence of Malay (official) treachery and admitted the punitive motive. But so far the Government has not even hinted at such a pretext for its policy. Nor do I disagree with "Changi " when he admits that the negotiation of the new Malay agreements is reminiscent of the transactions of the East India Company. But in defence of the Government of that day I must protest that Captain Light and Sir Stamford Raffles, so far from complying with orders from London, exceeded them and acted as individuals. " Changi" invokes international law. By that law all the Malay States used to be politically dependent, but juridically independent. Now that jurisdiction has been transferred to His Majesty the King they cease, if words have meaning, to retain independence in any form.—Yours faithfully,
RICHARD WINSTEDT.
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